The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-10-15
STORIES or JERE BLACK.
Told in the "reminiscences Of His
Mrs. clay ton.


Mrs. Mary Black Clayton, daughter of
Judge jeremiah =. Black, has written u
biography Of her father, under the title of
"Reminiscences" Slight as ii is, this hi
ography IL welcome and interesting. II
dwells, ny is natural, upon the softer traits
OF Judge Blacks character, and We have
before ms u charming picture % domestic
love and life. THE house OF the Blacks
she writes, sin York, was bright and gay.
The children Of the neighborhood scamp
cred all over IL from top TO bottom. IL
was headquarters for social gatherings and
innocent amuscments. The religion of the
father and mother contained no element Of
severity which irowncd upon youth and
happiness, and, therefore, the house where
all had right, and where all might enter
tain their friends, was a home Ia be re-
membercd with sacred pleasure. No n
ever took more delight in seeing the strang-
er,, under his roof than Judge Black. To
the day OF his death the sight Of u new face
At his table made his face sparkle with a
kindly feeling. II his house had been ~
kindly m his heart, IL would never have
been full. As IL was, IL was generally full
Ia the caves, and he. was himself the
bright particular star in the galaxy Of
| kindred and friends"
Ms. Clayton tells the good story of the
bills for the pleasure trip NJ the Harriet
lane, and President Buclianan's anger ut
the excursion having been at government
"The papers, the morning after the NJ
turn Of the vessel, had their usual VERT
cious chronicle Of the beautiful and accom-
plished people and the rare and toothsomc
viands on which they were toasted. The
more the President read Of this the more
his cholcr rose. When Judge Black, who
had slept at the White-house, appeared
the morning after the return of the vessel
hc was ut white heat. who Is 10 pay for
all this2' he remarked, in his drycst aud
mot indignant manner 1t IL supposed
that the government will foot the bills,
said the Acknowledgement. Il will stop
that; that shall not be- said the President.
Il will pay for II myself
at the close of the Cabinet meeting the
next day, the President, in his most Off
cial and presidential way, called ON Mr..
Cobb for an itcmizcd account Of the eN.
pcnscs attending the trial trip of the
Harriet Lane. Mr.. Cobb said he would
present II at the next meeting Of the Cabi-
net.
"Whcn the meeting broke up Cobb
| lulUtu JuNkt bifth hHN fulus bit'h,
what the devil does the old squire mean
about these bills7 You know. and you
must tell me- lie means Ia nay them
out Of his own pocket said Black. Cobb
replied with n long whistle, which he
used when his establishment oyerilowcd
all other means Of uttcmncc. lie said lit
tie more about the matter then.
AT the next meeting Of the Cabinet the
| pr.stl.nt aaLals
"'Mr. Cobb, did you bring me those
bills3'
"'What bills, Mr.. Prcsident?' asked Mr..
Cobb, a. though the whole matter had
escaped his memory.
"'Thc bills for the expenses of the trial
trip Of the Harriet lane, raid Buchanan,
dry NJ a Eirocco.
40 yes said Cobb. Il think I put
them in my pocket feeling in all his
pockets, the right one last, and handed
the President the bill-pcciptcd. Cobb
had paid them out of his own pocket.
Thereafter the whole administration had n
clearer understanding Of excursions"
Judge Blacks defense Of the civil liberty
Of the American citizen in the "Milligan
case" will always be gratcfully remembered
by the American people. lie was always
the champion, indeed, 81 the injured aud
oppressed. lie died MS he had lived in
that christian faith tpcculiar rs the man
himself was original and independent in
thought) which he always gladly PROGRESSED
and privately and publicly 20 ably de-
Tended. lie was a hard aud often bitter
fighter, but he bore no malice except
against wrong aud injustice. His contro-
very with Senator Wilson about thcircach.
cry II Stanton will long bc remembered.
lie passed through q period Of American
politics 81 great corruptions and tcmpta-
ton, wherein riches and applause and
high places were easily the price 81 man.
hood and probity, and was himself a thor.
onghly honest man. Few names stand
higher than that oi jeremiah :. BLACK and
no man was more loyal TO his friends or
morc dreaded by his foes.